Scottish Government

5 Derelict and Urban Vacant Land: Previous Uses, Preferred Uses and Other Characteristics

5.1 This section focuses on what the previous uses were for derelict and urban vacant land before it fell out of use. It then shows local authorities' preferred uses for derelict and urban vacant land. Information is also provided on how long derelict and urban vacant land has lain out of use and how developable that land is.

5.2 The previous uses of derelict and urban vacant sites are shown in Table 8 (overleaf). Former agricultural land should only be included if it is characterised by specific unsightliness or neglect. However, local authorities have explained that in some instances former agricultural land is released for development and is then classed as vacant where either the land is prepared for development or development starts on the land.

5.3 The previous use was unknown for 903 hectares of land (5% of the total amount of derelict and 18% of the total amount of urban vacant land recorded in 2008). Where the previous use is known, 25% of derelict land recorded in 2008 had been previously used for mineral activity (1,926 hectares), 25% for manufacturing (1,913 hectares) and a further 22% for defence (1,737 hectares). The most common previous use for urban vacant land, where previous use is known, was agriculture (29%, or 617 hectares) and the second most common previous use was residential development, accounting for 18% of recorded urban vacant land (393 hectares).

Table 8: Previous uses of derelict and urban vacant land ¹, 2008 ²

5.4 Local authorities were asked to indicate up to three preferred uses for the sites as defined in the most recent local plan or other approved local authority planning policy documents. The distribution of primary preference is shown in table 12. The most popular preferred or intended future uses for derelict land, where known, were other general industry (17%), residential (16%) and other non-categorised uses (10%). For urban vacant land, these were residential (37%), other general industry (17%) and manufacturing (16%).

Table 9: Primary preferred or intended uses for derelict or urban vacant sites, 2008 ^1,2

1. Figures may not sum due to rounding
2. A partial survey was completed for Highland - See Annex A.10
3. Excluding manufacturing
4. Excluding passive open space
5. Unknown values are excluded from the calculation of percentages

5.5 Where the length of time a site has lain unused was known, 32% (1,702 hectares) of vacant and derelict land within settlements and 45% (1,757 hectares) of derelict land within the countryside had been unused since before 1986 (Table 10 and Table 11). Taken as a whole, 32% (3,459 hectares) of all vacant and derelict land across Scotland has been lying unused for at least 23 years. There is a large degree of variation at the council level regarding how long vacant and derelict land has been unused for.

Table 10: Sites in Settlements: Date when vacant or derelict ^1-4 land was first identified, by local authority area, 2008

1. Figures are for total urban vacant land in settlements of 2,000 and over and derelict land in all settlements.
2. Settlements as defined by local authorities in their latest council approved local plans (see Annex Section A.5).
3. Figures may not sum due to rounding.
4. A partial survey was completed for Highland - See Annex A.10
5. Unknown values are excluded from the calculation of percentage values.

Table 11: Sites in the Countryside: Date where derelict ^1-3 land was first identified, by local authority area, 2008

1. Figures are for total derelict land in the countryside.
2. Figures may not sum due to rounding.
3. A partial survey was completed for Highland - See Annex A.10.
4. Unknown values are excluded from the calculation of percentage values.

Table 12: Development Potential of derelict and urban vacant land, 2008 ^1,2

1. Figures may not sum due to rounding.
2. Unknown values are excluded from the calculation of percentage values.

5.6 Table 12 shows the development potential of derelict and urban vacant land within Scotland. 23% of all derelict land within Scotland (with known development potential) is developable in the short term, compared to 49% of all urban vacant land with known development potential. The higher proportion of urban vacant land being developable in the short term, compared to derelict land, is not surprising given derelict land (by definition) requires some form of rehabilitation before new development can commence. Overall, 30% of all derelict and urban vacant land within Scotland (with known development potential) is developable in the short term. Across Scotland overall, 14% of derelict land and 6% of urban vacant land is seen by local authorities as being uneconomic to develop and (or) is viewed as suitable to reclaim for a 'soft' end use ( i.e. non-built use).

5.7 In 2008, a clear majority of all derelict and urban vacant land with known ownership had a single private owner (57% or 6,188 hectares). 23% or 2,527 hectares of derelict and urban vacant land with known ownership had a single public owner. The remaining 6% of derelict and urban vacant land with known ownership split 4% (472 hectares) mixed public and private ownership, 1% (115 hectares) multiple private owners and 1% (96 hectares) multiple public owners.

5.8 Out of all the 10,832 hectares of derelict and urban vacant land recorded in 2008, 15% (1,571 hectares) has unknown ownership.